Diamond Anatomy

The three most important components of a diamond’s anatomy are diameter, table and depth. The ratio of the table to the diameter, and the depth to diameter, are prominent factors in determining a diamond's cut grade. While understanding a diamond’s anatomy can be helpful, the diamond’s cut grade should be used as a guide when purchasing diamonds. Learn more about Diamond Cut.

Here we explain the different parts of a diamond to help you understand the terminology that describes a diamond’s features.

Diameter

The width of the diamond as measured through the girdle from one end to the other.

Table

The flat surface area at the top of the diamond; the table is usually the largest facet of the stone.

Crown

The upper part of a diamond, extending from the girdle to the table.

Girdle

The girdle sits between the crown and the pavilion; it defines the perimeter of the diamond. A medium thickness girdle is the optimum size. An extremely thin girdle can make the diamond more vulnerable to chipping. However, a thick girdle is also undesirable because it adds additional weight to the middle of the diamond. This can cause the diamond to look smaller than diamonds of similar weight.

Pavilion

The pavilion is the bottom portion of the diamond, the section extending from the girdle down to the culet. A pavilion that is too deep or too shallow can result in light escaping from the bottom or side of the stone. The desired performance of a diamond is to reflect the light out from the top of the stone.

Culet

A small facet at the bottom end of the gemstone, often ending in a tip or point. The preferred culet is not visible to the unaided eye.

Depth

The overall height of the diamond measured in millimetres, from the culet to the table of the diamond.